BY Emma Elebeke

Last week, the 2013 Nigeria Internet Governance Forum ended in Abuja, with stakeholders calling for a more secure internet governance in the country.

They are of the view that when the Nigerian internet governance system is made more secure and users’ protection guaranteed, the economy will be better for it.

The also contended that it would not only insure the safety of the local operators but also erase the fears of intending foreign investors in the country. The multi-stakeholders event entitled: “ Internet Governance for Empowerment , National Integration Security through Multi-Stakeholders’ Engagement,” attracted government officials, stakeholders from the private sector, civil society organizations and representatives of the academia.

In her address, Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, said that the event calls for the creation of a Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Teams (CERT) ecosystem with apex, sectoral and institutional, CERTs that will, as needed, serve as standby teams of experts that will respond to national emergencies.

“We have seen the number of internet users rose from 45 million in December 2011, to 48 million in June 2012. That is three million new users in just six months.  “Figures we have from MTN, GLO, Airtel and Etisalat tell the same story; as at June 2012, total mobile internet subscription stood at about 25 million, by March 2013 an additional nine million new subscribers had been added bringing the total to 34 million,” she added.

According to her, it is expected that 10 percent increase in broadband penetration will result in a 1.38 percent increase in GDP.  With approximately nine million additional people becoming Internet users each year in Nigeria, minister said that internet value as a channel for achieving inclusion cannot be overstated.

She urged participants at the event to ensure that 48 million people and an additional nine million each year are empowered, integrated, and secured in their use of the Internet, as opposed to is empowered, disenfranchised and constituting a threat to Nigeria and her citizens.

Chairman of the occasion, Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, underscored the need for a law that would protect ICT infrastructure and users from attackers.  He stated that for the Nigerian internet community to make the right impact on the economy, a well articulated governance system has to be made safe for users to maximize its potentials. The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Engr. Eugene Juwah also said that for developing nations to play globally, they must have unhindered access to internet.